NCAA places Mississippi State on three years probation

Mississippi State's football and men's basketball teams have been placed on three years probation by the NCAA on Friday following an investigation into academic misconduct involving a part-time tutor and 11 players.

The NCAA also announced a reduction of two football scholarships for both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years, and a reduction of one men's basketball scholarship for 2020-21.

The football and men's basketball teams will vacate wins as part of the resolution agreement with the NCAA. Postseason bans were not levied for either program, however.

The probe revealed that a part-time tutor aided 10 members of the football team and one basketball player in an online general chemistry course during the fall semester of the 2018-19 school year.

The tutor, no longer associated with the school, has been given a 10-year show-cause order.

"Our staff at Mississippi State was proactive in our preventative measures, quick to respond, and worked in full cooperation with the NCAA enforcement staff," Mississippi State athletic director John Cohen said in a statement. "With all of the compliance training that our staff and student-athletes go through on a year-round basis, it is unfortunate that a student serving as a part-time tutor was able to lead our student-athletes astray. Nevertheless, we take full responsibility for these actions.

"Mississippi State will work diligently to continue a culture of compliance and continue to take proactive measures moving forward."